ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI CDISPATCH.COM 75 ¢ NEWSSTAND | 40 ¢ HOME DELIVERY THURSDAY | JANUARY 24, 2019 Government ‘He was a good kid’ shutdown could affect federal grants for nonprofits United Way faces delay of $27K; Safe Haven worries about staff salaries BY AMANDA LIEN [email protected] Every month, Helping Hands di- rector Nancy Guerry sees anywhere from 50 to 200 individuals seeking one-time fi- nancial or food assis- tance come through her doors. Guerry Some of them are Alex Holloway/Dispatch Staff recently employed Evelyn Piazza, left, and Rae Ann Gruver talk to students at Mississippi State University about their sons’ deaths workers that need a due to hazing at Penn State and LSU, respectively. The speakers were part of a Wednesday evening anti-hazing little help between event at the Humphrey Coliseum. paychecks to make rent or mortgage payments. Others Mothers of deceased hazing victims tell their sons’ are young families in need of food, or Sanders senior citizens who stories to members of MSU fraternities, sororities can’t afford to purchase both gro- ceries and medication that month. Speakers encouraged students to report hazing was the last time I was able to look “We’re helping people that aren’t into his eyes and tell him I loved at the crisis point yet,” Guerry said. even if it means getting in trouble themselves him, that I was really proud of him “But they will be if they let the situ- and that I was going to miss him.” ation go much longer.” BY AleX HOllOWAY said, a moment she’ll never forget. Less than a month later, Max That statement, in itself, may be parallel with the situation Helping [email protected] Her last photo with Max is from choked to death on his own vomit Hands and other local nonprofits that day as they hugged while he after being forced to drink a high are facing while the partial govern- ae Ann Gruver can remem- moved in at LSU. quantity of 190-proof alcohol at a ment shutdown persists. ber dropping off her son, “It was the last time I felt his “Bible Study” for LSU’s Phi Delta Some of the money Helping R Max, for the last time at arms around me giving me his Theta fraternity, to which he was Hands, and other nonprofits, use to Louisiana State University. pledging. huge hug,” she said. “It was the provide financial assistance comes It was Aug. 15, 2017. It was, she last time I saw him with a smile. It See HAZING, 3A from federal grants — grants that cannot be distributed while the fed- eral government is closed. Renee Sanders, United Way of Lowndes County’s interim direc- tor, is responsible for managing the BUSINESS MOVES WITH MARY Emergency Food and Shelter Pro- gram Grant, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Subscription-based ride service coming to Starkville Agency and distributed to United Way chapters. Last year, the United Plus: New medispa opening in Columbus hoping to expand the phone Way of Lowndes County received app transportation service to $27,000 in EFSP grant funds. hen Kyle Staude sat in have used a transportation rural college towns throughout That money is distributed a police station with a network in college to avoid the nation. Riders will pay for among five nonprofits that apply to WDUI on his record, he some of his poor decisions. a subscription, for a week or United Way for the grant: Salvation knew it could have easily been Hopefully by February, Staude a month, and have unlimited Army, Loaves and Fishes, Helping avoided. will have that answer in place rides in the greater Starkville Hands, Recovery House and Safe That was more than five for Mississippi State University area. Haven. Grant money is disbursed years ago, when Staude was students. Safety, Staude said, is the in two installments upon demon- a college student. Now CEO EZ-RYDR, a subscrip- company’s priority. Once a stration of need. of EZ-RYDR — a ride sharing tion-based transportation rider is in the vehicle, both But if the partial government shutdown extends past Feb. 1 — company similar to Uber or service, launched in Oxford the driver and rider have a Mary Pollitz Lyft — Staude said he could in October 2018. Staude is See BUSINESS, 6A See SHUTDOWN, 6A Bill passes allowing electric cooperatives to offer internet ‘I look forward to signing it at my earliest opportunity’ day for House Bill 366, allow Mississippi’s 25 Henson, who lives in a which had earlier passed electric cooperatives to rural area near Guntown, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant the House, and Gov. Phil form subsidiaries to of- said he’s been trying to BY JEFF AMY John Henson is among high-speed internet ser- Bryant said in a state- fer broadband internet get faster internet service The Associated Press the people who are hop- vice will bring improve- ment that “I look forward service, removing a ban on his rural road for near- ing that a measure al- ments. to signing it at my earliest on the member-owned ly 20 years, having been JACKSON — North- lowing the state’s elec- The Senate voted opportunity.” utilities getting into other turned down by AT&T east Mississippi resident tric cooperatives to offer unanimously Wednes- The measure would businesses. See INTERNET, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What is the sole component of MEETINGS Today Jan. 26: Colum- ozone? ■ Exhibit reception: The Starkville Area 2 Pete Rose was banned for life from bus Municipal Arts Council hosts a free reception at 5:30 Major League Baseball for what? School District p.m. in The Partnership lobby, 200 E. Main 3 Where in the solar system can you Board Special St., Starkville, for “Endangered Mississippi.” find the Sea of Cleverness, Marsh of call meeting, Decay and Lake of Fear? MSU architecture students explore small 8:30 a.m., 4 What language is Brad Pitt’s char- homes and large plantation stables in need of Jaxon McCallum Brandon Central acter allegedly speaking in the movie revitalization. Third grade, Annunciation Snatch? Services 5 What footwear did hecklers Jan. 29: Colum- High 46 Low 27 brandish to mock 2004 presidential Jan. 25-March 8 bus Municipal candidate John Kerry? ■ Smithsonian Water/Ways Exhibition: School District Partly sunny, cooler Full forecast on Answers, 6B This traveling interactive exhibit at the Ten- Board Special page 2A. nessee-Tombigbee Waterway Transportation Call meeting, 6 Museum, 318 Seventh St. N., Columbus, p.m., Brandon explores how water affects the way we live, Central Services INSIDE work, worship, create and play, and how to Feb. 4: Lown- Business 5B Dear Abby 4B sustain this resource for the future. A Main des County Classifieds6B Obituaries 5A Street exhibition made possible by the Missis- Supervisors, 9 Comics 4B Opinions 4A sippi Humanities Council. For more informa- Amanda Ivy is a school bus a.m., County 139TH YEAR, NO. 269 Crossword 6B tion, call 662-328-8936. driver for West Point. Courthouse DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “I have got kids that are ready to step into this role ...” MSU women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer, talking AP sources: Trump, others about how his team will respond after learning soph- omore Chloe Bibby will miss the rest of the season. agitated by Giuliani’s performance Thursday Story, 1B. Trump has not expressed an inclination to dismiss his presidential lawyer BY JONATHAN LEMIRE the possibility that Giuliani Trump says he’ll give State of the AND ERIC TUCKER do fewer cable hits, at least The Associated Press for a while, according to the officials and Republi- NEW YORK — Rudy cans. Union address after shutdown ends Giuliani’s latest media Several of Trump’s blitz, which was filled influential outside allies with a dizzying array of President cannot also have begun express- AP-NORC poll: 6 in 10 Americans misstatements and hur- ing reservations about ried clarifications, agitated Giuliani. Some members speak in front of a joint President Donald Trump of this informal network blame Trump for shutdown and some of his allies, who session of Congress of advisers, whom the THE ASSociateD PRESS have raised the possibility president frequently calls without both chambers’ that the outspoken presi- from the White House res- WASHINGTON — A strong dential lawyer be at least idence, urged Trump in re- explicit permission majority of Americans blame ‘Trump guaranteed temporarily sidelined from cent days to bench Giuliani President Donald Trump for the televised interviews. — but most stopped short BY KEVIN FREKING, MATTHEW record-long government shut- everybody that Mexico Trump was frustrated of suggesting he be fired, DALY AND CATHERINE LUCEY down and reject his primary ra- would pay for the with Giuliani, according to according to four White The Associated Press tionale for a border wall, accord- three White House officials House officials and Repub- ing to a new poll that shows the WASHINGTON wall. Now he’s holding and Republicans close to licans close to the White turmoil in Washington is drag- — President Donald the White House who were House. ging his approval rating to its Trump said Wednes- American workers like not authorized to speak Trump has not ex- lowest level in more than a year. day night he is post- publicly about private con- pressed an inclination to Overall, 34 percent of Amer- poning his State of me hostage’ versations. The president dismiss Giuliani. icans approve of Trump’s job the Union address Lloyd Rabalais, a furloughed told advisers that he felt Rarely reluctant to ap- performance in a survey con- until the partial gov- federal contractor from Louisiana his lawyer had obscured pear before TV cameras ducted by The Associated Press- ernment shutdown what he believed was a or answer a reporter’s call, Trump NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.